Trent Williams ‘extremely excited' for Kyle Shanahan reunion on 49ers

Seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams not feel out of place when he reports to the 49ers’ team headquarters in Santa Clara at some point in the future.

Coach Kyle Shanahan was Williams’ offensive coordinator for the first four seasons of his career with Washington.

“I’m extremely excited to get back in the building with, not only Kyle but there’s a ton of those coaches in there from the first four years of my career,” Williams said Thursday from his home in Houston during a video call with Bay Area reporters. “It’s going to be a happy reunion.

“This was a preferred destination of mine just because of the familiarity I have with Kyle and the offense. Obviously, it being an ascending team, I feel like I’ll fit right in.”

The 49ers acquired Williams in a trade with Washington on Saturday, dealing a fifth-round pick this year and a third-round selection next year. Washington used this year's pick from the 49ers to choose former San Diego State offensive lineman Keith Ismael at No. 156 overall.

Listen and subscribe to the 49ers Insider Podcast:

Williams, who turns 32 in July, did not play last season. He requested a trade in the summer among issues with his contract and discontent with Washington management over what he considered a botched diagnosis of a cancerous tumor on his scalp.

San Francisco 49ers

Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

Seahawks sign ex-49ers tight end Saubert to free-agent deal

Why 49ers will need major contributions from 2025 draft class

He reported to the club after the trade deadline passed in mid-October but spent the remainder of the season on the non-football injury list. His agent again requested a trade in March. The Minnesota Vikings also engaged in preliminary talks with Washington, but Williams said the better fit for all parties was with the 49ers.

“The Vikings, long term, and what I looked at long term, it didn’t synch up,” Williams said. “They just really dropped out. It wasn’t me refusing to go.”

The deal with the 49ers was not completed until just before the beginning of the final day of the draft.

Williams played 120 games (119 starts) in nine seasons with the Washington. He was the No. 4 overall pick of the 2010 draft, which was Mike Shanahan’s first as coach with Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator.

[RELATED: 49ers widen gap as Seahawks, Rams flop in draft]

The younger Shanahan places an emphasis on smart and athletic offensive linemen to execute the team’s complex zone-running scheme. Williams is big, powerful and athletic. He and the man he replaces, Joe Staley, are considered prototypes for Shanahan’s scheme. He does not think anything changes with what he did as a younger man in the NFL.

“I think the reason I was drafted to Washington is the way me and this offense marry up with my skill set,” Williams said. “I think that’s still the same. I think it’s a hand-and-glove fit. I know this offense like the back of my hand.”

Contact Us